The former Ryder Cup player holed a 12 foot birdie putt at the par four 18th to beat South Staffs club professional Jim Rhodes at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off.
The pair had tied on four-under-par 209, Bembridge closing with a 72 to Rhodes’s one under 70. Bembridge had battled throughout the final day to hold on to the two-shot lead he held overnight.
Although he lost it temporarily on the front nine, he had re-established the margin on reaching the par five 17th. Rhodes then set up a tense finale by holing a long putt for a birdie four to narrow the gap.
Bembridge three-putted the 18th to fall back level with his fellow Midlander but when he arrived back minutes later in the play-off he made no mistake, while Rhodes’s longer effort slid past.
It was 54-year-old Bembridge’s second title in four years on the European Seniors Tour, his previous success being the Jersey Seniors Open two years ago. He said: “It was a relief to see that last one go in. I gave everybody a chance to catch me with some awful putting. But it’s nice to be a winner again.”
Bembridge, who commutes to the Tour from coaching in Switzerland, built his victory on a second round 67 which included a hole-in-one with a two iron at the 199-yards fifth.
“Maurice deserved this win,” said Rhodes. “He worked hard to stay in front for three rounds. It wasn’t easy to score out there.”
Italian Alberto Croce posted a best-of-the-week five under 66, including a run of five birdies in seven holes around the turn, to jump into third spot on three under 210. American J R Delich ended with a 67 for fourth on 211.
Defending champion Noel Ratcliffe made a spirited last round bid to keep his title with a run of five birdies and an eagle three in seven holes to be three under and one off the pace. But the Australian bogeyed two on the home run to finish with a 67 for a share of fifth on 212 with Essex-based John Hudson (70).
DeRay Simon, winner of last year’s Philips PFA Classic, picked up his first Lynx Super Seniors £500 cheque after reaching his 60th birthday in March. The Californian, who has been playing on the European Seniors Tour for the past eight years, had a last round 72 for level par 213.
1 Maurice BEMBRIDGE (Eng) 70 67 72 209 13000.00
2 Jim RHODES (Eng) 70 69 70 209 8460.00
3 Alberto CROCE (It) 73 71 66 210 4940.00
4 J.R. DELICH (USA) 71 73 67 211 3860.00
5 Noel RATCLIFFE (Aus) 74 71 67 212 3190.00
John HUDSON (Eng) 71 71 70 212 3190.00
7 Eddie POLLAND (N.Ire) 74 71 68 213 2546.67
DeRay SIMON (USA) 71 70 72 213 2546.67
Tommy HORTON (Eng) 74 71 68 213 2546.67
10 Renato CAMPAGNOLI (It) 71 73 70 214 2065.00
Bill HARDWICK (Can) 71 73 70 214 2065.00
12 Norman WOOD (Scot) 70 73 72 215 1686.50
Brian WAITES (Eng) 74 70 71 215 1686.50
David JONES (N.Ire) 72 73 70 215 1686.50
Ian RICHARDSON (Eng) 71 72 72 215 1686.50
16 Terry GALE (Aus) 74 73 69 216 1285.00
Chick EVANS (USA) 72 73 71 216 1285.00
Liam HIGGINS (Ire) 71 71 74 216 1285.00
Tienie BRITZ (SA) 80 68 68 216 1285.00
Antonio GARRIDO (Sp) 74 71 71 216 1285.00
David CREAMER (Eng) 75 74 67 216 1285.00
22 Bobby VERWEY (SA) 73 69 75 217 1040.00
David SNELL (Eng) 73 73 71 217 1040.00
24 TR JONES (USA) 75 74 69 218 867.50
Hugh INGGS (SA) 76 70 72 218 867.50
Peter TOWNSEND (Eng) 75 74 69 218 867.50
Malcolm GREGSON (Eng) 71 75 72 218 867.50
28 Joe MCDERMOTT (Ire) 72 77 70 219 752.00
Harry FLATMAN (Eng) 74 73 72 219 752.00
30 Craig DEFOY (Wal) 71 72 77 220 724.00
John FOURIE (SA) 75 71 74 220 724.00
32 Bob SHEARER (Aus) 72 70 79 221 712.00
33 Steve WILD (Eng) 74 78 70 222 692.00
Michael SLATER (Eng) 76 73 73 222 692.00
Jan BJ™RNSSON (Swe) 74 72 76 222 692.00
Bob MENNE (USA) 72 77 73 222 692.00
37 Geoff PARSLOW (Aus) 75 71 77 223 672.00
38 Jan DORRESTEIN (Hol) 74 76 74 224 664.00
39 Jay DOLAN III (USA) 71 78 76 225 652.00
Paul LEONARD (N. 75 75 75 225 652.00
Ire)
41 Michael MURPHY (Ire) 76 74 77 227 640.00
42 Peter CHAMBERLAIN (Eng) 77 77 75 229 628.00
John COCKIN (Eng) 79 73 77 229 628.00
44 Kenneth MAGNUSSON (Swe) 76 79 77 232 616.00
